subalpine

[ suhb-al-pahyn, -pin ]

/ sʌbˈæl paɪn, -pɪn /

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adjective

pertaining to the regions at the foot of the Alps.

Botany. growing on mountains below the limit of tree growth, and above the foothill, or montane, zone.

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Origin of subalpine

First recorded in 1650–60; sub- + alpine

Words nearby subalpine

subadar, subaerial, subagent, subah, subalimentation, subalpine, subaltern, subalternate, subantarctic, subapical, subapostolic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use subalpine in a sentence

Mount Rainier glowed bright amber as it popped up from behind a stand of subalpine fir.
Why Mount Rainier Is the Ideal Park|mturner|September 18, 2021|Outside Online
Trails such as the five-mile Greys Lake Trail drop hikers on the shores of subalpine lakes, where craggy summits, like the 11,127-foot Hole in the Mountain Peak, loom above.
50 U.S. Wilderness Areas, Ranked|eriley|July 26, 2021|Outside Online
Topping out at 11,823 feet, the trail gives visitors a great chance to check out subalpine and tundra zones.
Alpine Lake Spotting at Rocky Mountain National Park|Emily Pennington|October 16, 2020|Outside Online
Among the trees are the quaking aspen, Douglas spruce, Engelmann spruce, and subalpine fir.
Your National Parks|Enos A. Mills

Another thousand feet and the Subalpine fir replaces its two near relatives.
Mount Rainier|Various
They are found in most perfect condition in the subalpine region, at an elevation of from eight thousand to nine thousand feet.
The Yosemite|John Muir
Between the subalpine areas and the river valleys there are several large ancient burns which are partly reforested.
The Forests of Mount Rainier National Park|Grenville F. Allen
Subalpine species adapted to withstand the burden of deep snow take their place.
The Forests of Mount Rainier National Park|Grenville F. Allen

British Dictionary definitions for subalpine

subalpine

/ (sʌbˈælpaɪn) /

adjective

situated in or relating to the regions at the foot of mountains

(of plants) growing below the treeline in mountainous regions

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012